Grave of President Chester A. Arthur, our 21st president.Plate on President Arthur’s grave stone.Becoming president upon the assassination of President James A. Garfield in 1881, President Arthur served out the remainder of President Garfield’s term from 1881-1885, and did not secure the Republican nomination for the 1884 election. His signature issue was reforming the spoils system, and he signed into law the Pendleton Act, which required that government jobs be distributed according to merit, rather than cronyism. Arthur married a Culpeper, Virginia girl, Nell Herndon, She died when she was only 42 years old, almost two years before Arthur became president. Arthur’s sister served as First Lady during his term.Portrait of President Chester A. Arthur in the Vermont State Capitol. He was a Vermont native.
President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, Plymouth, Vermont. Coolidge is one of my favorite presidents. He was our 30th president, and was the only president to be born on the 4th of July (1872). Coolidge was faithful to the US Constitution during his term; he refused to use government intervention to “correct” a downturn in the economy, much to the displeasure of the progressives. He was a very straight arrow, no-nonsense person. He was especially known to use an economy of words. It was reported that while at a Washington social event during Coolidge’s presidency (1923-1929), a news reporter approached the president and told him that he had bet another reporter that he would be able to get the president to say more than two words, to which Coolidge replied “You lose”.The view from the village of Plymouth, VermontCalvin Coolidge was born here, in a back room of the General Store. This is the actual room where Calvin Coolidge was born.Room in Coolidge’s birthplaceKitchen in Coolidge’s birthplaceThe Coolidge Home in Plymouth. The entire village of Plymouth was a tour – the general store, old school house, Coolidge home, the cheese company, and a few others. It was actually a much better tour than I expected. The self-guided tour of the Coolidge home was really neat. It is a well preserved example of the simple American rural life back in the late 1800s.This was Calvin Coolidge’s bedroom. There are two pairs of his shoes next to the dresser on the far wall.Although he was a Vermont native, Coolidge went to college in Massachusetts and stayed there, eventually serving as Governor. He was President Warren Harding’s Vice President from 1921-1923, when Harding died. At the time Harding died, Coolidge was visiting his father here in Plymouth. His father, a notary public, administered the presidential oath of office to his son in this room, using the Bible on the table in the center of the room.President Coolidge used to relax on this front porch. Now, so have I!Carriage House at the Coolidge homesteadOfficial portrait of President Calvin Coolidge. Calvin’s father operated the Plymouth Cheese Corp. here. His father also was involved in just about every activity in this small village, which is mostly as it was when Calvin Coolidge was growing up here. General Store. Calvin Coolidge was born in a room in the rear of this building.Plymouth Post OfficeVillage streetUnion Christian ChurchChurch interiorSchoolhouse1923 Ford President Calvin Coolidge grave.Portrait of President Calvin Coolidge hanging in the Vermont state capitol.
Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont I was not able to see the inside of the dome because this building has no rotunda – just wood supports inside the dome.Statue of Ethan Allen at the Vermont State House. Ethan Allen was an American Patriot. He was instrumental in helping American General Benedict Arnold (before Arnold turned traitor) capture Fort Ticonderoga in the Revolutionary War. He was also one of the founders of the state of Vermont. He was also a bit of a wild character – worth a little study if you have time!Vermont House Chamber.Vermont Senate Chamber.Senate chamber ceilingPortrait of Vermont native Chester A. Arthur, our 21st president.Portrait of Vermont native Calvin Coolidge, our 30th president
Front of the state capitol.Close-up of the dome, which appears black, but is actually copper.Rear of the capitol, and the visitors entrance. Unfortunately, we were too late to tour the building.Liberty Bell replica on the grounds of the Maine State House.
The Pierce Manse, Concord, New HampshireThe Pierce Manse Home of Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853-1857.The Pierce Manse With railroad tracks in the front yard! (For you, Jason!)Grave of Franklin PierceStatue of President Franklin Pierce on the grounds of the New Hampshire state capitol.
